Window screen



M. SVALLAND WINDOW SCREEN May 29, 1934.

Filed Feb. 15, 1933 INVENTOR.

fihrf/n 61/07/0770 BY V 11 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 29, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE 10 Claims.

' part of the window frame generally within a casing or housing built into the window frame, so as to conceal and house the roller and that portion of the screen coiled thereon. The sides of the window below the roller are provided with grooves and the screen may be raised and lowered by coiling it on or uncoiling it from the roller, while the lateral edges of the screen cooperate with the grooves which serve to guide the screen and hold it straight when said screen is in lowered position.

Roller screens are expensive to install. They require appropriate housings and must be mounted firmly in position. Furthermore, they are expensive due to the cost of construction of the various parts entering into the structure and experience has shown that it is very difficult to keep them in proper working order particularly as the springs and the roller are apt to break or lose their tension.

The primary object of the present invention is .to provide a flexible screen which is not open to the objections attendant upon the use of roller screens and which may be made more economically than roller screens and installed in a simple and efficient manner without requiring skilled artisans for this work.

Speaking generally the screen of the present invention is made of a length substantially equal to the height of the window with which'it is adapted for use and of such breadth as to extend for the width of the window frame. The frame is provided along its lateral internal margins with guides and the screen is adapted to cooperate with these guidesin a manner to slide longitudinally thereof to permit cleaning of the outside of the associated window pane. The screen may cooperate with the guides in various ways, but in accordance with this invention, the upper portion of the outside of the guides is cut away so that the screen may be bodily projected outwardly and free from contact with the guides for the purposes stated. The screen of this invention requires no roller upon which it may be rolled or any other expensive mounting means. The structure is simple and thoroughly efficient in operation.

One feature of the invention consists in the manner in which the lateral edges of the flexible screen are made. With the flexible screen of the character specified, the lateral edges should be transversely stiff. According to this invention, I

preferably incorporate within the margins of the screen a metal tape which will reinforce the edges of the screen and while permitting the screen to be readily flexed will preclude its crimping or lateral distortion.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

The accompanying drawing illustrates different practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a section perspective showing a window frame equipped with a screen embodying the present invention, parts of the structure being broken away in the interest of clearness.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmental detail section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the invention.

Figures 5 and 6 are modified sections.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a window frame provided with parting strips 2 and 3 and having associated therewith suitable window sashes not shown. The frame is of the conventional mill work type and the structure per se forms no part of the present invention, for the structure of this invention is adapted to be associated with a conventional window construction.

In the construction of Figures 1-3, I attach to the opposite sides of the window and along the inner margin of the parting strip 2 a guide 4 shown in cross section in Figure 3. This guide embodies a guideway formed between parallel flanges 5 and 6 from which extends a flange 7 adapted to be secured by screws or nails to the faces of the strips 2 at the opposite sides of the window. Each guide 4 extends from the sill 8 upwardly to a point near the top of the window at which point the outer flange 5 is cut off and flared outwardly as shown at 9. The back flange, however, continues upwardly and is bent outwardly on an even curve to form. a carnming member 10. The guides at the opposite sides of the window are the same and made complementary to cooperate with the opposite edges of the screen.

The screen is designated 11 and is of ordinary wire mesh and is reinforced at its lateral edges. This reinforcing may be accomplished by folding back the lateral edges of the screen a plurality of times to form a thickened edge, but I have found that a much superior product results if I weave into the lateral edges of the screen an edgtransversely thereof.

brass. It is suificiently thin to flex radially in a direction perpendicular to its fiat faces, but is sufliciently wide and stiff, so that it will not flex edgewise. Such being the case, the lateral edges of the screen are properly reinforced and strengthened.

In the structure described, both the upper and lower edges of the screen are bound by means of suitable binding strips 13, as shown in Figure 1, and thus the screen is reinforced on all sides. The opposite ends of the binding strips 13, however, are flattened preferably, so as to operate within the guides 4 and by grasping the lower binding 13 which may if desired be provided with appropriate handles or one or more finger pieces (not shown), the screen may be slid up and down in its guides as desired.

It will be noted that the screen does not extend to the full interior height of the window, and to close the space between the top of the window frame and the upper end of the screen, I attach to the face of the upper parting strip 2 a closing member 14. This strip may be readily secured in place by means of screws as shown. It is set sufficiently close to the screen that when the screen is pulled down into closed position at the bottom of the window, the opening strip 13 at the top of the screen will bear against the outer face of the closing member 4 and form a sum-- ciently tight joint therewith to preclude the entrance offlies, mosquitoes or other insects.

It will be noted that in the structure described, the upper portion of the screen is not attached, so that when the screen is raised camming portions will deflect the upper end of the screen screen so that flies or mosquitoes cannot enter through the joint thus formed.

In large windows, it may be desired to support the screen as it is projected out of the window when raised, so that the central portion of the screen will not crimp. I have experienced no difficulty in this connection, but it is apparent that the portion of the screen between the guide: should not sag as it is projected outwardly in the manner described. To absolutely preclude any such sagging, I may provide brackets at the upper ends of the guides and attach to these brackets the opposite ends of a guide rod 16, which will then extend for the full width of the window and overlie the exterior surface of the screen, so that when the screen is raised, it will simply lay over this rod which will preclude sagging of the screen, such as might possibly occur in a large window with a soft copper section. The rod 16 may be mounted to rotate if desired, although it need not do so.

Instead of using the rod, I may, moreover, reinforce the screen itself at intervals by reinforcing strips incorporated in the screen and extending The present invention contemplates this as an alternative of the use of the r with the preceding figures.

flange 6 of the guide extends from the sill to the lower face of the horizontal parting strip 2 and does not have the camming portion 10. On the other hand, the outer flange 5 is cut away an appreciable distance from the top of the window. The screen is made as previously described with reinforcing strips 12 at its lateral edges and a binding strip 13 at its lower edge. It may also have a binding strip at its upper edge, but this is not essential as the upper edge of the screen is adapted to be fixedly attached directly to the outer face of the strip 2. When the screen is pulled down, so that the lower binding strip 13 bears against the sill, the screen will be pulled tightly to maintain it in vertical alinement. However, when it is desired to raise the screen for any purpose, the lower binding strip is lifted by means of handles or finger pieces if provided and the upper portion of the screen will simply bulge out through the open side of the guides as indicated in full lines in Figure 4. If the screen is raised sufficiently far, it may be entirely disengaged from the guides and hang free on the outside of the window. This will of course permit the cleaning of the outside of the window as the operator may permit the screen to hang loosely over his or her back while cleaning the window. The same effect is produced of course in Figure 1, because when the screen is raised for an appreciable distance the screen is projected outside of the window and hangs free against the back of the operator engaged in washing the outside of the window panes. In both cases, therefore, the guides have a portion of their outer flanges cut away to permit the screen to hang free exteriorly of the window. In either or both of the structures described, appropriate means may be provided for locking the lower end of the screen down to the sill. Any suitable catch or locking device may be employed for this purpose.

In Figure 5, I have shown a structure to take the place of the part 14 in Figures 1 and 2. In this figure 17 is a strip of metal adapted to be secured to the under side of the part 2 and extending downwardly and provided at spaced apart distances longitudinally thereof with upright slots 18. A second strip of metal 19 carries bolts 20- which extend through said slots and are provided with wing nuts 21. To this arrangement, the strip 19 may be vertically adjusted to keep the screen under proper vertical tension. In other Words, after the bottom of the screen has been fastened with any suitable clasp to the sill, the strip 19 is pushed upwardly to pull the screen tight and the wing nuts 21 tightened.

Figure 6 also shows an adjusting means for use in connection with the structure of Figure 4 and in this figure a strip 22 is secured to the part 2 and has a depending flange carrying bolts 23 with wing nuts 24. The binding 13 at the upper end of the screen is provided with vertical slots through which the bolts extend so that after the bottom of the screen is fastened down to the sill by any suitable catch the screen may be stretched upwardly and the wing nuts thereby tightened to hold the screen under the desired tension. The structure of Figure 6 is particularly useful in securing the upper end of the screen to the top of the frame in the structure of Figure 2.

It will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description of this invention in its preferred practical. forms that the screen described may be readily associated with a conventional window and when mounted thereon may be freely operated from open to closed position without requiring the exercise of any appreciable amount of strength and in a smooth and noiseless manner.

One practical advantage of the invention is that when it is desired to store the screen away from the winter, the screen may be readily removed from the guides and from the window and rolled up into a relatively neat and small roll and thereafter slipped into a suitable container such as a paper tube to be preserved against damage or dust until it is desired to return the screen to the window.

The foregoing description and drawing show the invention in its preferred practical forms, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an assembly of the character described, a guide adapted to be mounted at the side of a window and embodying inner and outer flanges forming between them guideways for a lateral edge of a screen, a flexible screen, a lateral margin of which is adapted to project into said guideways to guide the screen as the same is raised and lowered, the outer flange of said guide being cut away for a portion of its length to permit a portion of the screen to be projected outside of the window and out of the path of the guide when the screen is elevated.

2. In an assembly of the character described, a guide adapted to be mounted at the side of a window and embodying inner and outer flanges forming between them a guideway for a lateral edge of a screen, a flexible screen a lateral margin of which is adapted to project into said guideways to guide the screen as the same is raised and lowered, the upper end of said screen being adapted to be secured firmly to the window frame and the outer flange of said guide being cut away for a portion of its length to permit the greater portion of the screen to project outside of the window and out of the path of the guides when the screen is elevated.

3. In an assembly of the character described, a guide adapted to be mounted at the side of a window and embodying inner and outer flanges forming between them guideways for a lateral edge of a screen, a flexible screen a lateral margin of which is adapted to project into said guideways to guide the screen as the same is raised and lowered, the outer flange of said guide being cut away for a portion of its length to permit a portion of the screen to be projected outside of the window and out of the path of the guides when the screen is elevated, and means for deflecting the screen to the exterior of the window when the screen is raised.

4. In an assembly of the character described, a guide adapted to be secured to the side of a window and extend vertically of the window, a flexible screen having a reinforced lateral edge extending into said guide to mount the screen for vertical sliding movement therein, both of the upper and lower edges of such screen being provided with a binding strip, and the upper portion of said guide being cut away at the outside to provide an exit opening, whereby when the screen is raised the upper portion of the screen is deflected outwardly through the opening in said guide.

5. In an assembly of the character described, a guide adapted to be secured to the side of a window and extend vertically of the window, a flexible screen having reinforced lateral edge extending into said guide to mount the screen for vertical sliding movement therein, both of the upper and lower edges of such screen being provided with a binding strip, and the upper portion of said guide being cut away at the outside to provide an exit opening, whereby when the screen is raised the upper portion of the screen is free to be deflected outwardly through the opening in said guide, and a camming member forming a continuation of the guide to deflect the upper portion of the screen in an outward direction when the said screen is raised.

6. In an assembly of the character described, a guide adapted to be mounted at the side of a window to form a vertical guideway, a flexible screen, the lateral margin of which projects into said guide and is guided for sliding movement therein, said lateral margin of said screen having incorporated therein a metallic reinforcing ribbon which permits flexing of the screen in a direction normal to its face and maintains approximate lateral alinement of the edge of the screen.

7. In an assembly of the character described, a guide adapted to be mounted at the side of a window to form a vertical guideway, a flexible screen, a lateral margin of which projects into said guide and is guided for sliding movement therein, said lateral margin of said screen having woven thereinto a metallic ribbon which permits flexing of the screen in a direction normal to its face and maintains approximate lateral alinement of the edge of the screen.

8. In an assembly of the character described, a guide adapted to be mounted at the side of a window and open at its upper ends, a flexible screen, a lateral margin of which is adapted to project into said guide to guide the screen when the same is raised or lowered, both the upper and lower edges of said screen being unattached, whereby when the screen is raised the upper end will hang free, and a supporting member adapted to extend transversely of the window at substantially the upper end of the guide and adapted to serve as a transverse support for the screen to preclude sagging or crimping thereof when the upper portion of said screen is hanging free and out of alinement with the guide.

9. In an assembly of the character described, a vertical guide adapted to be mounted at the side of a window and the outer side of which guide is cut away in the upper portion thereof, a flexible screen adapted to be positioned with one marginal edge in said guide for vertical sliding movement therein, the upper portion of said screen be. ing adapted to be projected outside of the window and out of the path of the guide when the screen is elevated, and transversely extending reinforcing means for precluding sagging of the screen in the region of the bend between that portion of the screen remaining in the guide and that portion of the screen which projects exteriorly of the window.

10. A flexible window screen into the lateral margins of which are woven a relatively broad thin strip of resilient metal to reinforce said marginal edges and maintain them respectively in approximate lateral alinement while permitting the screen to be flexed in a direction normal to its faces.

MARTIN SVALLAND. 

